The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-08-09
NATURAL GAS TALK.
Secretary Root Claims that the Indianapolis
Company Is Acting in Good Faith.

To the Editor OF the Indiana polls Jon rnai:
In your paper of the 9th inst. well the
Sth inst. you have letters signed John Brown, y
well as "Sphinx" and II c. IT," all relating
to the natural gas subject Now. If the writers
would make as much of effort to tell the
truth they have to injure the Indianapolis
Natural-gas Company, l would be under obliga-
tons to them. In the first place, John Brown
says, ALLEN Fletcher has So, 600 worth of coke
on hand to sell. and for that reason he is doing
all he can to keep gas out so he sell his
coke" Now, the truth is Mr.. Fletcher has no
coke on hand to sell, as he has sold all the coke
the gas-works will make for three years. The
contract was made Jan. j, 1856, and does not
expire until Jan. /, 1880. That settles the $780,
worth of coke that troubles "John Brown"
Now, if John Brown" wanted to do
the fair thing, he would never have
published the statement that coke had gone up
three cents per bushel. and coal had advanced
81. so per ton. as he could have stepped into any
coal Office and found out that coal and coke had
not advanced cent AS to the advance
COAL in your editorials you have had several
small articles that read about like this: ''It don't
make one feel any cooler, this hot weather, to
know that coal has gone up one dollar and fifty
cents per ton, and tie prospects are no better
for our city than they were when the ordinance
passed" Now, coal has not advanced in our
market, while it has advanced at the mines and
at all points outside of Indianapolis please
give the coal men credit, If we are, or some OF
US. at least, in the local natural-gas company.
John Brown" says: 1T is funny, isn't it, coal has
gone MP 81. 80 per ton.5 The funny part of it is
coal has not made any advance, and further, i
don't think there will be any such advance.
that would be more of an advance at one jump
than have ever known in sixteen years retail
business John Brown" says many things
far from fact, all through his communication.
he has in regard to the raise in coal One thing
might mention is that the Indianapolis Natural
gas Company connived with the manufacturers
as to get them into their company with in
tention of bringing here this winter,
and the manufacturers put in $85 000
The whole of the above is certainly drawn from
John Browns" fertile imagination as it is with
out foundation. Now, II c. u" reiterates the
same thing to coke going up three cents and
coal advancing ST. so ton; also, that the COM
pany has dawdled away good time for the pur-
pose of not bringing gas here this winter. when
the facts we have worked with more earnest
ness than any company in the State and with the
one purpose of bringing gas to our city this win
ter. We mean business and we we'll known
that is, stockholders-and don't know of
one among the whole that would lend himself to
any scheme, as l believe all are, like myself,
anxious to gas here soon. AS far as the coal
business is concerned, am willing to step down
and out of it at once; so If the gentlemen that
card the papers want in they get bargain,
as l am giving all my time to natural gas. and
expect TO until the gas is here. I am in hopes
company will have it for this winter, and be-
lieve they will Be patient, and we will do
best to have gas here G. r. RooT,
Secretary Indianapolis Natural-ga Company.